Detroit Theatres and Their Pipe Organs
The Census
Legend:
THEATRE NAME Opening and closing dates
Street address Architect
City Number of seats
Comments (Organbuilder, year of installation, other pertinent or interesting data)
ACADEMIE (1923 - 1952)
9000 Oakland
Detroit 342
2/4 Marr & Colton (1924)
Went to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Detroit. Has since gone to parts. Roger Mumbrue acquired the console and relay. No combination action; not at all unusual for Marr & Colton organs of this size.
This Robbins-owned theatre opened in an existing retail building as Theatre Academie in 1923. The name was changed to the Echo Theatre in 1934, largely serving African-American audiences until closing on November 13, 1952, possibly at the end of a leasing period.
ADAMS (1917 - 1988)
44 West Adams C. Howard Crane
(Grand Circus Park) 1,770
Detroit
3/28 Hilgreen-Lane (1918) [Opus 518]
Organ built and installed for a reported $5,400, and had a 5 hp blower, serial number #9354. M. Clarke listed as "1st Organist" and Arthur Rivette as "2nd Organist" in 1925 printed program. Organist and organbuilder Ed Gress purchased this organ and set up ten ranks of it in his home.
This "alley jumper" theatre was demolished in 2009.
ADDISON (1914 - 1980)
(aka FINE ARTS)
2954 Woodward (at Watson) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 582
2/? Robert Morton (1919)
2/5 Robert Morton (1927) Style 17 [Opus 2316]
The theatre opened as a legitimate theatre in 1913, but within a year changed it's name to Fine Arts and it's format to movies. During the 1990s, the theatre was used periodically as a nightclub that often featured dining. It was shut down by the city in 1998, and has stood vacant ever since.
ALHAMBRA (1914 - 1959)
9428 Woodward (across from Boston Blvd) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,475
2/11 Hilgreen-Lane (1914)
Organ built and installed for a reported $2,900.
Theatre converted to a recording studio in 1967. The lobby was divided into smaller rooms, and the auditorium used for storage and as an echo chamber for recordings. Closed at some point in the 1970s, sold and converted to use as a church, abandoned by late 1990s. The theatre was demolished 2007, and a liquor store is now on that site.
AMBASSADOR (1924 - 1970s?)
(aka TEMPLE, aka ART)
17730 John R (North of McNichols)
Highland Park 810
2/3 Wurlitzer (1924) Style 109 [Opus 914]
Herb Head of Roseville got the pipes from this instrument.
Name changed to Temple in 1945, and again to the Art Theatre in 1961, providing adult films in the 1970s. By the end, the building was largely destroyed, with the roof gone and no doors.
AMUSE U (1912 - 1970)
(aka LANCASTER)
10533 West Jefferson
Detroit (River Rouge) 1,200
3/6 Wurlitzer (1925) Style D, 3 manual [Opus 1193]
Some believe this is the most reinstalled theatre organ that remained intact, maybe ever, having been (partially to completely) reinstalled a total of seven verifiable times after leaving the theatre. Purchased and removed by George Orbits, later sold to Henry Przybylski, later sold to Dave Voydanoff (three locations), later sold to Jim Walgreen (Chicago) and installed in the residence of Fred Kruse (Chicago) and still later reacquired by Dave Voydanoff and playing in Pearl Beach. Intact, some additions.
Renamed Lancaster Theatre in 1921. Remodeled in 1946 after a tornado hit. Closed in the 1960s.
ANNEX (1927 - 1949)
(aka RIVIERA ANNEX, GRAND RIVIERA ANNEX)
8990 Grand River John Eberson
Detroit 1,824
3/13 Robert Morton (1927)
Included V'Oleon and piano. Organ removed just prior to the theatre's demolition in 1954. Later installed in Powderhorn Park Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota by Ray Stephens, a former Robert-Morton area representative. Extant, but now removed from the church.
ARCADE (1913 - 1949)
2416 Hastings St. (at Vernor) B. C. Wetzell
Detroit 464
2/?? Moller (1913) [Opus 1773]
Two manuals, seventeen registers.
An advertisement ca.1934-35 says "Open All Night."
ARCADIA DANCE PALACE (1912 - 1929)
(aka ARCADIA ROLLER RINK)
3527 Woodward C. Howard Crane (renovations, 1923)
Detroit
2/8 Moller (1914)
Tubular pneumatic instrument.
The "Arc" opened as one of the country’s largest ballrooms in 1912, premiered as a concert hall and theatre in 1915, and was home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for a brief period. The acoustics were reportedly bad enough to bring about the construction of Orchestra Hall just a few years later. The building reverted to a ballroom in 1929, and was converted to a roller skating rink in 1941, periodically hosting boxing matches. It was demolished in 1972 to make way for a high-rise apartment building for the elderly. The Capitol Theatre's 4/20 Wurlitzer was installed here for about a decade, beginning in the mid-1950s. See CAPITOL listing.
ARENA GARDENS ROLLER RINK (1935 - ????)
5787-5791 Woodward
Detroit
2/11 Wurlitzer (1935) Rebuilt Style 13 [Opus 103]
Originally in Orpheum Theatre, Jersey City, NJ (1916) as a 2/8, then to Hamilton Theatre, Yonkers, NY (1916), then to Arena Gardens (1935), where Steve Bodman connected the organ in such a way so as to be playable from a button accordion. Rink owner Adam Weismuller was a concert accordionist. Bodman installed the organ in 1935 and increased the number of ranks from eight to eleven, reportedly all for $148. Russell Bice, local rink organist and Adam Weismuller were the organists. Later sold to Ben Van Houten, Grand Rapids, MI; later sold to Robert MacNeur (late 1970s). Parts.
AVALON (1928 - 1967)
13303 Linwood (at Davison) Graven & Mayger
Detroit 1,972
3/10 Wangerin-Barton [519 Organ] (1928)
Included piano.
Metal scrappers got to this instrument just before being removed by Henry Przybylski and Phil Robertson in January and February, 1971. Parts.
Same owner as Linwood Theatre. Last day of operation was June 30, 1967. Early plans were submitted by C. Howard Crane.
BALDWIN (1922 - 1936)
(aka WASHINGTON [1936 - 1984], aka STAGECRAFTERS BALDWIN [1985 - present])
422 S. Washington Frederick D. Madison
(Entrance now 415 S. Lafayette)
Royal Oak 1,128
2/7 Barton (1922)
Donated to original First Presbyterian Church (Royal Oak) in 1941 by Mabel Baldwin. Gone by 1955 when the church moved to their new building. Status unknown.
2/9 Wurlitzer-hybrid (1980s). Core of organ from EAST SIDE, Detroit. Additions from RAMONA, Detroit and WSMK Radio, Dayton, OH.
BIJOU (1905 - 1970s)
(aka JEWEL)
87 N. Gratiot
Mt. Clemens 800
2/6 Wurlitzer (1919) Style 160 [Opus 0204]
First location was an 88-seat nickelodeon which opened in 1905. This second location for the Bijou opened in 1910 as a 410-seat theatre, expanding to 800 seats in 1913. Later expanded to 1,200 seats in 1938, reopening as the Jewel Theatre. Remodeled again in 1950 by Detroit architect Ted Rogvoy.
BIRMINGHAM (1927 - present)
215 S. (Old) Woodward C. W. Rapp & George Rapp
Birmingham 1,401
3/10 Barton [259 Organ] (1927)
The organ was heavily draped, had a very muffled sound and suffered some water damage while still in the theatre. Removed by George Orbits, sold to Don Jenks (installed and playing in his first Brighton home), later sold to Gary Montgomery. Served as core of the instrument in Theatre Organ Pizza & Pipes, Pontiac, opening in October, 1979, and built up to 21 ranks. Restaurant closed in 1986. Currently being professionally restored by Carlton Smith and installed in a private residence in Tennessee as a 3/14 "Barton concept organ," minus a few original components and all additions made in Pontiac. One of the additions to the bass in the latest incarnation is the metal Diaphone that was originally in the Olympia Stadium Barton. Original three-manual "wedding cake" console supplanted with a three-manual "DeLuxe" (circus wagon) Barton console
This single-screen theatre was restored and rebuilt in 1996 as an eight screen multiplex showing first-run films.
BROADWAY
(aka BROADWAY - STRAND) (1913 - 1929)
1333-1337 Broadway Arland W. Johnson
Detroit 1,600
3/15 Wurlitzer (1915) Style 35 [Opus 64]
Very few of this apparently experimental model were produced. The lower two keyboards (Accompaniment and Great) were standard 61-note, while the top (Solo) keyboard was only the center 37 notes. The limited-compass “color” stops, like Tibia, (brass) Trumpet , Kinura, Orchestral Oboe, Oboe Horn and Quintadena were only available on the Solo keyboard at 8’ pitch and were available on the Great only via couplers from the Solo. Same story for the Chimes and Sleigh Bells. Limited number of tabs, all in a single row. Featured in a display ad for the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in The Moving Picture World, August 14, 1915. Sold to Ed Lansing, who cut the console down dramatically and removed the top keyboard for his home instrument. Later sold to James Van Eck (1973), acquired by the Music House, Acme, MI in 1992. Parts.
CALVIN (1927 - 1980)
22168 Michigan Ave. Ted Rogvoy
West Dearborn 1,200
2/7 Marr & Colton
Much of the organ was smashed by vandals in this one-chamber installation. The remains of organ were removed by Jeff Slabaugh and his father in early 1970s. Some chests and pipes later found a home in the Dearborn residence organ of David Brewer. Parts.
CAMPAU
??? Joseph Campau Ave.
Detroit? Hamtramck?
Reproduco (photoplayer)
CAPITOL (1922 - 1985)
(aka BROADWAY-CAPITOL, aka PARAMOUNT, aka GRAND CIRCUS)
DETROIT OPERA THEATRE (1990s - present)
1526 Broadway (Grand Circus Park) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 3,485
3/38 Hilgreen-Lane (1921) [Opus 630]
4/20 Wurlitzer (1925) Publix #1 [Opus 1123]
This was Detroit’s first “super-palace,” and the fifth largest theatre in the U.S. at the time of it's opening. Depending on the source, the reported cost of the Hilgreen-Lane organ varies wildly, from $8,000 to $50,000 ($685,000 today). The Detroit Free Press reported on January 12, 1922 that the H-L had "all of the effects required in modern pictures, including such sounds of pistol shots, wind whistles for storm effects, police sirens, etc." Only four years after the H-L was installed, it was replaced by Wurlitzer’s first Publix #1, ultimately a popular economy model with the smaller Style 285 four-manual shell (the same used for the Fox slave consoles). Purchase price was reportedly $46,475. Under specific direction from organist Jesse Crawford, the specification was sans English Post Horn; “to protect the audience from the organist." Prior to his days at the Fisher Theatre, Don Miller was the chief organist. Robert G. Clarke listed as "1st Organist" and C. D. Boomhower as "2nd Organist" in a 1925 printed program. Lew Betterly and many of the old-time organists felt this was Detroit's finest sounding organ, speaking out well with great acoustics, coupled with huge openings into the auditorium. Miller said he played the piano during the Summer while the Hilgreen-Lane was being removed and the Wurlitzer installed. The console arrived sans ornamentation, and sat in the lobby during that period. A publicity photo of Marguerite Werner at the undecorated console was taken during that time. Later, the organ was broadcast on radio in the afternoon, even while the theatre was open, showing movies. In 1956, Opus 1123 was sold to organist William Holleman and removed in 19 days. It was installed on stage of the Arcadia Rink shortly thereafter. Holleman sold the brass Saxophone and had two Posthorns in the organ; a Moller and a Marr & Colton. Beginning in 1969, it was sold to a rapid succession of owners on roughly an annual basis before being acquired by the Oakland (California) Symphony Association in 1972, and now serves as the basis for the Wurlitzer organ in the Oakland Paramount Theatre, Oakland, California.
When the theatre was restored to become the "Detroit Opera House," the deteriorating plaster was analyzed by Environmental Testing Associates in order to faithfully recreate the original mix in an attempt to retain the fine acoustics.
CARDINAL RICHELIEU'S TEA ROOM STUDIO (1930 - 1934)
12832 Woodward
Highland Park
2/5 Wurlitzer (1926) Style B Special [Opus 1532]
This instrument began it's public life at the Van Croix Theatre in Eau Gallie (later merged with Melbourne), Florida, and was shipped from the factory on 12/10/26. Due to the financial hardship placed on the surrounding area by the Great Depression, the theatre closed permanently in 1930. The organ was resold and installed in Cardinal Richelieu's Tea Room, approximately 12/16/30. The tea room was at the southern end of a large luxury apartment building known throughout it's life as the Highland Towers. The organ was then sold to radio station WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia, approximately 7/08/34. The station's staff organist was Vivian Miller. Current information as to the organ's whereabouts or condition unknown.
The basic four ranks of the Style B were Trumpet, Vox Humana, Flute and Salicional. The fifth rank would have been a Tibia Clausa, making this stock model a "special." This instrument would be similar to the Wurlitzer organ in the Punch & Judy Theatre in Grosse Pointe. It is believed that the organ was installed by Wurlitzer-trained technicians at all three locations.
CASINO (1930 - 1949)
4858 East Davison Mildner & Eisen
Detroit 650
2/3 Wurlitzer (1923) Style 109 [Opus 638]
First installed in Penniman-Allen Theatre, Plymouth (1923)
Repossessed and sold to the Wadlow Bros., Detroit (1926), (possibly Wadlaw or Wadloso Theatre in Plymouth)
Repossessed and installed in Casino Theatre, Detroit (1929)
CENT ODEON (1906 - 1970s)
(aka BIJOU, aka NEW GAYETY, aka CINE X)
62 Monroe Mildner & Eisen
Detroit 314
Reproduco (photoplayer)
The popular Reproduco line was produced by the Operators Piano Company of Chicago, and according to one of their vintage advertisements, there were about twenty-three of them in the Detroit area. It is believed that over 1,000 of them were built and saw service in theatres nationwide. They consisted of two keyboards; one piano and one organ, and were equipped to play either manually or from an inbuilt roll player. Their basic model controlled three ranks of pipes that were stuffed behind the knee panel; those being a Diapason, Quintadena (stopped metal flute), and an open Flute, whose wooden bass pipes were strapped to the back of the case's exterior. Deluxe models had an additional cabinet that stood alongside, containing other pipes and effects, and sported a short compass pedalboard. The company also produced a similar line that was successful in mortuary use.
By the time this theatre closed in the mid-70s, it was considered to be the oldest continuously operating movie theatre in the country.
CHALMERS (1928 - 1950)
(aka CHANDLER)
1403 Harper
Detroit 450
2/3 Wurlitzer (1928) Style 109 [Opus 1965]
Installed only weeks after the Fisher Theatre Wurlitzer, this was the last theatre organ installation in the city of Detroit. Repossessed and reinstalled in the Four Square Gospel Church, New Baltimore, MI (1933).
CINDERELLA (1924 - 1975)
13305-9 East Jefferson (at Copeland) Christian W. Brandt
Detroit 1,897
2/6 Wurlitzer (1923) Style D (Moved to Roosevelt Theatre, Detroit, 1924) [Opus 526]
3/10 Wurlitzer (1924) Style H Special [Opus 881]
The Roosevelt organ was purchased and removed by Herb Head and used as the core of his Roseville home instrument, which is now in storage awaiting reinstallation in a theatre in McGregor, Texas. Dudley Harwood was organist at the Cinderella before moving over to the Oriole. He would often have an usher climb up to the chamber and open the top of the upright piano to increase it's volume. The three-manual Cinderella organ was purchased and removed by Glenn Rank (1969) and sold to the Music House Museum, Acme, Michigan (1985), where it now serves as the core of the instrument there. See ROOSEVELT listing.
CIRCLE (1912 - 1936)
(aka YIDDISH, aka DUNBAR)
2814 Hastings
Detroit 658
Reproduco (photoplayer)
Turned in Yiddish vaudeville theatre in 1921.
COLONIAL (1917 - mid-1975)
2615 Woodward (at Adelaide) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,566
2/22 Hilgreen-Lane (1917)
New facade in 1948, designed by Ted Rogvoy. Theatre closed mid-1975, demolished shortly thereafter.
COLUMBIA (1911 - 1956)
50 Monroe C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,006
2/18 Hilgreen-Lane (1911)
2/3 Wurlitzer (1927) Style 100 Special [Opus 1701]
The Hilgreen-Lane was Detroit’s first pipe organ installation into a movie theatre (located near Campus Martius), and that company's first theatre organ installation anywhere. The Columbia was likewise the first movie theatre in the city of Detroit, and also the first theatre in the city to feature an orchestra providing silent film accompaniment.
Theatre demolished sometime prior to 1990, when the rest of the historic Monroe Block came down.
CONANT (1929 - 1954)
12027 Conant (between Commor and Carpenter)
Hamtramck 940
2/? Robert Morton (1929)
CRESCENT
__
Pontiac
2/3 Wurlitzer, Style 105
No information. Theatre possibly demolished early, changed names prior to installation, or never built.
COURTESY (1915 - 1951)
6041 W. Vernor Hwy (at Military) Williams Brothers
Detroit 816
Reproduco (photoplayer)
COZY (1915 - 1934)
1042 Michigan Avenue
Detroit 389
Reproduco (photoplayer)
CRYSTAL (1916 - 1938)
1497-1499 Michigan Avenue
Detroit 589
?/? Karn-Morris (1916)
Karn-Morris Piano & Organ Company of Woodstock, Ontario built two instruments for theatres in Detroit near the end of that brief partnership; for the Crystal Theatre, and the Duplex Theatre. The action is presumed to have been tubular pneumatic (sometimes referred to as "tubercular rheumatic"). Karn later partnered with Russell Warren (formerly of Clough & Warren) in Detroit. The firm became Warren and Sons, and later Woodstock Pipe Organ Builders. Karn-Morris built about seven organs for theatres in total.
2/3 Robert Morton (1923) Style 49
Unspecified revisions or replacement by Morton (1926)
Demolished in 1938 with the widening of Michigan Avenue, and replaced with the "new" Crystal in the same year, now demolished.
DELTHE (1916 - 1963)
(aka DEL)
8935 Mack Ave. Christian W. Brandt
Detroit 1,076
2/7 Wurlitzer (1915), Style 3 [Opus 61]
Moved at an unknown time to the Delthe from unknown location in Chicago.
DELUXE (1918 - 1958)
9355 Kercheval B. C. Wetzell
Detroit 1,486
?/? Seeburg-Smith
This Adam styled East English Village theatre housed the only Seeburg-Smith installation in the Detroit area. Demolished April, 1963.
DEQUINDRE
??? Dequindre
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
DETROIT CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
5035 Woodward Avenue
Detroit
2/3 Kimball (1928) [KPO 7043]
This instrument was installed with a 16’ – 2’ Concert Flute, 8’ – 4’ Tibia Clausa, 8’ – 2’ Viole, along with a full battery of traps and xylophone. Second touch on Accompaniment and Pedal. Used initially for teaching students in the art of playing the theatre organ in a classroom setting, taught first by Robert "Bob" Clarke (Hollywood Theatre), and later by Armin “Jack” Franz (various Detroit area theatres). Sold to the late Tom Wilson (c. 1960), who installed it first in his Detroit residence, later moving it to his home in Bloomfield Hills (Gilbert Lake area) in 1966. Xylophone swapped out for a 37n Page metal bar harp by Wilson. Removed 2021 and awaiting reinstallation in a private studio in the Great Lakes Bay region. Intact.
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS (1917 - present)
5200 Woodward Avenue Paul Phillipe Cret
Detroit 1,200
4/79 Casavant (1927)
Not a “true” theatre organ, but a fine old instrument voiced in the orchestral Romantic style, and used to accompany films even today. Extant, unaltered, awaiting a full restoration. Stacked, cantilevered chambers, making for great difficulty to restore.
DEXTER (1926 - 1964)
11618 Dexter (at Burlingame)
Detroit 1,228
2/5 Marr & Colton (1926)
Removed 1970s. Spent some time playing in a restaurant in an unknown location, then reinstalled in home of Taylor Trimby, Joliet, Illinois. Resold to an unknown party and now parts.
DRURY LANE (1916 - 1922)
1534 Woodward Ave.
Detroit
2/8 Wurlitzer (1916) Style V Special [Opus 91]
This model contained the following ranks: 16' Tuba Horn, 16' Open Diapason, 16' Concert Flute, 8' Viol d'Orchestre, 8' Viol Celeste, 8' Dulciana, 8' Oboe Horn, 8' Vox Humana. With no traps and only Cathedral Chimes for a percussion, this model also sold to churches and lodge halls. The instrument was controlled by a piano console, and had a mandolin attachment.
DUPLEX (1915 - 1922)
(aka GRAND BOULEVARD)
(aka ORIOLE TERRACE DANCE HALL, aka GRAND TERRACE, aka LATIN QUARTER, aka GRAND QUARTERS)
3075 E. Grand Boulevard (near Woodward) Fuller Claflin
Detroit 1,500 (twin adjoining 750 seat theatres)
?/? Karn-Morris (1915)
?/? Kelly (1922)
In the July - September, 1914 issue of The Moving Picture World, a feature entitled Detroit To Have Duplex Theater said:
"...the orchestra may be playing in one auditorium and the pipe organ in the other, without interference with each other; and orchestra and pipe organ can be played alternately in each auditorium to suit the nature of the picture which is viewed from each, respectively. Only one orchestra and one pipe organ are necessary in a duplex theater, the orchestra passing readily from one orchestra pit to the other as the pictures change correspondingly, while soundproof shutters open and close openings from the organ loft to either auditorium at the will of the organist." The initial drawing of the building's interior showed the organ installed high atop the centrally located proscenium arch, playing into a divided dome that was shared by both theatres. See CRYSTAL listing for general information on Karn-Morris. Thomas Kelly was a Detroit organbuilder and technician whose only known theatre instrument was in this structure when it was the Oriole Terrace Dance Hall, installed in 1922. In an advertisement in The Diapason magazine, Kelly's address was listed as 401 E. Palmer St., near what is now the Wayne State University campus. What is not known is if this was an all-new instrument, a rebuild, possible electrification or just moving within the building of the Karn-Morris.
This building opened as a two-screen theatre in 1915, and was one of the first duplex theatres in the U.S. Initially promoted as the Grand Boulevard, the theatre opened as the Duplex. Following a fire in 1922, the remnants of the structure were transformed into a ballroom by C. Howard Crane. Legendary band leader Jean Goldkette ran it during the 20s as a jazz hall, when it was one of the biggest nightclubs in Detroit. Surviving yet another fire in 1940, it also hosted dance schools, recitals and other local performances through the 1970s, and remained a venue for live music performance until becoming abandoned around 1996. Demolished December, 2011.
EAGLE (1927? - ????)
11-15 S. Saginaw George J. Bachmann
Pontiac 800
Photoplayer of unknown make.
Built in the 1860s, the Cooper House Hotel was refurbished into Pontiac's first movie house in 1910, named the Eagle Theatre. In 1927, this new building was constructed on the site of the old Eagle Theatre. Leased to Butterfield Theatres until sometime in the 2000s, when it was renovated into a nightclub, and as of 2018, was the home of Elektricity. Contains nine apartments on the third floor, still retaining Moorish elements shared with the theatre, with Art Deco bathrooms and Pullman kitchens. Architect Bachmann designed three other theatres in Pontiac, including the Orpheum, State and Strand. Building still extant.
EAST END (1926 - 1955)
11510 East Jefferson P. R. Periera
Detroit 1,050
3/9 Marr & Colton (1926)
Located near the Cinderella and Esquire Theatres.
EAST SIDE
(aka GREAT LAKES EAST SIDE) (1910 - 1959)
2717 Gratiot (at Grandy) George V. Pottle
Detroit 650
2/3 Wurlitzer (1925) Style 109 [Opus 1139], repossessed and reinstalled in Sylvia Theatre, Bellevue, KY (1928)
2/6 Wurlitzer (1927) Style D [Opus 1815]. Sold to St. Stephen's A.M.E. Church (on McGraw) in 1935, later to George Buck, see BALDWIN, Royal Oak.
ECHO (1926 - 1954)
8962 Oakland Ave. Richard H. Marr
Detroit 689
2/7 Marr & Colton (1926)
Organ went to unknown location in Amherst, New York.
Building erected 1919.
ECORSE (1920 -1951?)
4050 W. Jefferson
Ecorse 400
2/3 Wurlitzer (1926) Style 105 Special [Opus 1453]
Repossessed and sold to Reverend Welsh, Detroit (1935).
Theatre remodeled into a tavern by 1954, now a parking lot.
EMBASSY (1927 - 1930)
1480 Woodward
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
EMPIRE (1910 - 1923)
1251 Woodward C. Howard Crane
Detroit 530
2/8 Hilgreen-Lane (1913)
FAMILY (1909 - 1973)
(aka FOLLIES)
1 Cadillac Square at Monroe Fuller Claflin
Detroit 934
2/6 Wurlitzer (1924) Style D Special [Opus 853]
Organ sold to St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church, later sold to Bill Ptolemy (1970). Unknown.
The theatre was carved out of the old Kirkwood Hotel, dating to 1880. Originally showed vaudeville, but was converted to films by 1914, and remained so for nearly 60 years. When this theatre changed it's entertainment policy to that of adult films in the 60s, nearby residents complained, and so the name was changed to the Follies in 1967. At 10:14 p.m., on the evening of July 26, 1973, the theatre caught fire and burned slowly enough that most of the fifty or so patrons in attendance waited patiently in line to accept a full refund on the $5 admission charge. The remains of the theatre were demolished about a month later.
FARNUM (1917 - 1967)
9048 Joseph Campau C. Howard Crane
Hamtramck 900
2/4 Wurlitzer (1923) Style B [Opus 0735]
FERNDALE (1921 - 1928)
7913 Ferndale
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
FERNDALE (1921 - ????)
(aka THE MAGIC BAG)
22920 Woodward (one block N. of 9 Mile)
Ferndale 425
Bartola Model 3-1/2 (1920)
Theatre now called "The Magic Bag," running rock shows.
FERRY FIELD (1916 - 1934)
(aka BEACON) (1934 - 1937)
6541 Grand River (at Grand Blvd.) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,325
2/6 Marr & Colton (1926)
Sold to Tom Hadfield.
FISHER (1928 - 1960; legit playhouse 1961 through present)
3011 West Grand Blvd. Graven & Mayger
(at Second; Fisher Bldg)
Detroit 2,975
4/34 Wurlitzer (1928) 4-manual Special [Opus 1953]
One-of-a-kind, modified Publix #4 specification; one of the last two original theatre organ installations in the city of Detroit. Theatre opened in November, 1928. Purchase price reportedly $67,050. This instrument is unique on several levels, most notably with a stop layout arranged first by chamber and then by pitch. The console is one of a very few "big box" consoles (ala Fox with 345 stop tabs) slightly reduced in depth to accommodate a mere 281 stop tabs. One of a handful of Wurlitzer theatre organs installed anywhere with a grand piano attached. Installed by Wurlitzer's Chicago installer; a rare exception in the city that did not include Detroit area organbuilder Steve Bodman, who was a Wurlitzer employee. Promoted as the "Fisher Cathedral-Cinema Organ" in opening night newspaper advertisement. Early on, Ole Foerch moved over from the old Fox-Washington to play here. After a stint in the late 20s/early 30s, Don Miller returned to play on Friday nights from 1951-1955. Bill Holleman played during the late 50s. Roy Steinert maintained the organ and replaced many magnets while still in the theatre. Organ was available for practice at fifty cents an hour in the 1950s. Purchased by George Orbits in 1960, and moved to Iris Theatre and installed in 1961 as the focal point of the Detroit Theatre Organ Society (then Club). Moved to Senate Theatre and installed 1963-1964. Extant, basically unaltered.
FLAMINGO (1925 - 1952)
14270 E. 7 Mile (near Gratiot)
Detroit 997
2/5 Marr & Colton (1925)
Organ removed at the time of conversion to a church. Location unknown. Building currently in use as a church.
FLEUR DE LYS (1922 - 1928)
10775 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit (Waterworks Park) 1,090
Bartola Model Deluxe (1919)
2/7 Barton (1927?)
Theatre destroyed by fire in March, 1928. Site now occupied by a gas station.
FORD GRAND
__
Springwells (Dearborn)
2/3 Wurlitzer (1926) Style 105 [Opus 1274]
FORDSON
10149 Dix Rd.
Fordson (Dearborn)
?/? Marr & Colton
2/3 Wurlitzer (1926) Style 105 [Opus 1441]
Parts
FOREST (1914 - 1945)
4635 Woodward (at Forest) Fuller Claflin (remodeled by C. Howard Crane, 1935)
Detroit 600
??/?? Detroit Organ Company (1914)
In a local advertisement at the time, it was stated that "Lovers of good music will be particularly interested in the new Pipe and Orchestral Organ which has recently been installed in the popular "Forest" Theatre at Woodward and Forest avenues...Detroit business men and others who have the welfare of the city at heart should appreciate the fact that the management of "The Forest" when deciding to install an organ, gave the preference to a local corporation -- the Detroit Organ Company, instead of sending the money outside of the city." In the ad, Mr. Hook, of the Forest Amusement Co., owners of "The Forest," was quoted as saying that, "careful investigation convinced him that the skilled mechanics of Detroit were superior to those of most other cities, and that the mechanical construction and quality of material used by the Detroit Organ Company in their instruments was unexcelled, and that in buying a "Made in Detroit" organ he had the satisfaction of knowing that he was keeping the money in Detroit." The theatre was reportedly built into the North corner of the old convention hall building. The entire front of that vast structure was demolished in 1954, when Vernors reworked it into their bottling plant. In an October, 1915 print advertisement, the headline was 'Home of 'Made in Detroit' Organ," with Marie Stack Hiatt featured as organist. Given the time frame of the organ's installation, it's a sure bet that it was tonally much closer to that of a traditional church/classical organ than the much-expanded instruments from the middle and late 1920s. In addition to two rather impressive pipe facades flanking the auditorium, the grainy photo available shows what appears to be a two-manual drawknob console front and center, similar to what you would have seen in a church of that time, instead of the horseshoe-shaped console with tongue tablets that we've all come to accept as the standard. This was perhaps the only organ the firm ever built for a theatre in Detroit or elsewhere. The fate of the organ is unknown. A gas station now sits on the site.
FOX (1928 - present)
2211 Woodward C. Howard Crane
Detroit 5,041
3/12 Moller; lobby (1928) [Opus 5287]
Residence organ with roll player attachment. Sixty-eight registers, twelve ranks. Cost $10,000.
4/36 Wurlitzer; auditorium (1928) [Opus 1894]
Detroit's largest and grandest theatre organ and one of the six largest organs built by the Wurlitzer Company for installation in a theatre in the 1920s. Utilized both a slave and a stage console. Modeled on an identical instrument in the New York (City) Paramount (1926), this was one of only five built of this model, known as the "Fox Special." The main console spends most of it's time on it's own lift, hidden away beheath the orchestra lift, while the slave console is installed on the auditorium right side of the balcony.
Both extant, intact. Armin "Jack" Franz, Arthur Rivette and Ole Foerch played here.
FRONTENAC (1912 - 1951)
(aka ACE)
7206 Harper (at Frontenac)
Detroit 834
Bartola Model 5 (1919)
FUN (1912 - 1931)
1052 Michigan Avenue
Detroit 339
Reproduco (photoplayer)
GARDEN (1912 - 1949)
3929 Woodward (at Alexandrine) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 903
2/11 Hilgreen-Lane (1914)
Reopened in 1960s as an adult cinema called Peek-A-Rama; later renamed The Sassy Cat. After decades in ruin, the theatre underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and reopened in October, 2013. Today, the Garden is a performance art, event and rental space in Midtown with a seating capacity of 1,200.
GLADWIN PARK (1914 - 1962)
(aka GLADWIN, aka ALADDIN, aka BOOTH)
9636 East Jefferson (at Parkview) E. H. Rogers
Detroit 894
2/7 Wurlitzer (1918) Style 2 Special [Opus 165]
Case organ installed on stage. Included Clarinet.
3/8 Marr & Colton (1925)
GLOBE (1912 - 1955?)
3520 Grand River (at Trumbell) Harley & Atcheson
Detroit 650
2/13 Hilgreen-Lane (1915)
Theatre opened in 1912 as a vaudeville house. Remodeled in 1915 by C. Howard Crane, and enlarged to over 853 seats, switching to motion pictures. Located very close to Tiger (Briggs) Stadium. Remained in operation through the 1970s as an adult film house at the end. Demolished.
GRANADA (1927 - 1970)
5549 West Warren (at Junction)
Detroit 1,750
2/7 Wurlitzer (1927) Style E [Opus 1625]
Now installed in Village Chapel in Fowlerville, MI. Extant, some alterations.
GRAND RIVIERA (1925 - mid 70s)
9222 Grand River (at Joy Rd.) John Eberson
Detroit 2,766
3/10 Robert Morton (1925)
Installed in two chambers on auditorium right side of theatre; Brass and Woodwind. Impact of the organ was reportedly rather weak in the room, but always playable. Console sat at auditorium left on the floor of the pit, with no lift. Purchased and removed by Lee Hohner in 1969. Reinstalled three times since purchase, and remains intact and playing in Lee’s residence in Three Rivers, Michigan.
GRAND VICTORY (1921 - 1958)
(aka CHARGOT, aka VICTORY)
8225 Grand River Ave. Maurice H. Finkel
Detroit 919
2/4 Wurlitzer (1920) Style 135A [Opus 317]
Vandalized, later to parts.
GRANDE (1909 - 1956)
8024 West Jefferson Kohner & Seeler (1921 remodel)
Detroit 976 (enlarged to 1,837 in 1921)
2/6 Wurlitzer (1921) Style 160 [Opus 459]
Sold to Charles Bartells, later sold again to unknown party.
2/5 Marr & Colton (1929)
Sold to former DTOS board director Ed Kantarian.
This theatre was located in the Delray neighborhood, near Zug Island. Opened in 1909 as a legitimate theatre, later becoming a vaudeville house. Remodeled and enlarged in 1921 by architects Kohner & Seeler, and switched to movies and stage shows. Closed in 1951, reopened in 1953 with movies only. Demolished 2009.
GRATIOT (1910 - 1930)
2306-12 Gratiot Mildner & Eisen
Detroit 1,025
2/4 Wurlitzer (1925) Style B Special [Opus 1124]
Parts
GREAT LAKES (1927 - 1972)
(aka VEST POCKET)
14832 Grand River George D. Mason
Detroit 1,795
3/9 Marr & Colton (1927)
Some evidence exists that organist Don Miller did some teaching here. Organ removed mid-50s by Russ Vogt, and connected to Reg Webb 3-manual Marr & Colton console, which was highly unified with lots of couplers. Later sold to the late Harold Dingel in Goodrich. Restored, but never set up again. Sold at public auction after his passing in recent years. Location unknown.
The building operated as a church for several years after closing as a theatre in 1972. Demolished 1999.
GROSSE POINTE PARK (1923 - 1955)
(aka ALOMA)
15003 Charlevoix (at Wayburn) Ermest C. Thulin (Building Service Bureau, Detroit)
Grosse Pointe Park 1,073
?/? Marr & Colton (1924)
Changed name to Aloma in 1940. Closed in 1955. Today, the building is used as a hardware store.
HARMONY (1921 - late 70s)
(aka ADMIRAL)
11205 Mack (at St. Jean)
Detroit 1,322
?/? Marr & Colton (1921)
HARPER (1922 - 1930)
7723 Harper
Detroit 774
?/? Marr & Colton (1922)
The M&C was alleged to have cost $20,000 in the local press.
2/3 Wurlitzer (1925) Style 109 [Opus 1035]
Wurlitzer repossessed and moved in 1933 to Advent Lutheran Church, Dearborn.
Building still extant.
HARRIS
____
Detroit
2/6 Wurlitzer (1915) Style L [Opus 52]
Detroit’s first theatre Wurlitzer.
HAZEL PARK
22840 John R (at 9 Mile)
Hazel Park 500
2/3 Wurlitzer (1925) Style 105 [Opus 1171]
Possibly relocated to a church.
First movie house built in the city of Hazel Park.
HOLLYWOOD (1927 - 1958)
4809 West Fort (at Ferdinand) Charles N. Agree; Graven & Mayger, associates
Detroit 3,436
4/21 Barton (1927) [234 Organ]
This was a deluxe theatre in a sketchy neighborhood that never developed as anticipated. Bob Clarke was the organist here. Maintained by Ed Lansing through the 50s. Organ spoke out well (swell area 12' w. X 18' h. on both sides) and enjoyed good acoustics. Some think this was Detroit's second-best sounding theatre organ in it's time. Organ purchased and removed by Henry Przybylski in 1962 and stored, but never reinstalled. Sold to Steven Ball in 2003 and stored, but never reinstalled. Donated in 2020, and in the process of a professional restoration by Carlton Smith, to be installed in a new auditorium on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York exactly as it was in the theatre. Intact.
Hollywood Theatre demolished in 1963. Now a parking lot for school busses.
IRIS (1916 - 1954)
2314 East Grand Blvd. Mildner & Eisen
Detroit 881
2/8 Wurlitzer (1917) Style 3 Special [Opus 127]
Included 49-note Kinura. Organ sold to Frank Ski.
Rink-style theatre. Building was first home for Detroit Theatre Organ Club (1961 - 1963).
IRVING (1927 - 1997)
21220 Fenkell (at Blackstone) Kohner & Payne
Detroit 1,025
2/6 Robert Morton
Purchased and removed by William Kaltrider (Owosso) during the riots in 1967. Parts.
Located in Detroit's Brightmoor neighborhood. After serving in it's late years as a porn theatre, then a church and later suffering a fire that destroyed it and all of the adjoining businesses in May, 2007, the building was demolished.
JEWEL (1910 - 1934)
(aka BLACKSTONE)
116 Michigan Avenue 300
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
KNICKERBOCKER (1916 - 1957)
(aka WHITTIER)
7237 East Jefferson 973
Detroit
2/6 Wurlitzer (1915) Style L [Opus 57]
The Style L was the legendary instrument that Clare Dunham transported to his home in St. Clair one piece at a time in the sidecar of his motorcycle, after being displaced by Opus 1921 in 1928. Dunham purchased a brand new Tibia from Wurlitzer for $99. Organ later sold to John Steele and installed in his Pontiac home with alterations; later sold to Walter Bressler and installed in his Midland home; later sold to Joel Gary of Grand Rapids. Parts.
2/8 Wurlitzer (1928) Style 175 Special [Opus 1921]. Included 49-note Kinura. Repossessed and reinstalled in Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA (1933). Kinura replaced with Clarinet in Massachuetts installation. Unknown.
Across from Gabriel Richard Park, near the entrance of Belle Isle.
KRAMER (1920 - 1970)
5741 Michigan Avenue (near Livernois) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,732
2/18 Hilgreen-Lane (1920)
A widening of Michigan Avenue undertaken in 1938 made it necessary to demolish a considerable portion of the Kramer Theatre Building, including a small corner of the auditorium. The house was closed for the better part of a year. This event accounts for the drastic change in the theatre's architectural style from Renaissance Revival to Streamline Modern. The rebuilt house reopened on February, 11, 1939. In 1975, the Kramer converted it's facilities to a concert venue, hosting various musical acts. The theatre is believed to have closed in the early 1980s for reasons unknown. The theatre and surrounding retail buildings were eventually razed to make way for a new office space building, which currently occupies the space.
LA VEEDA (1922 - 1949)
(aka DE SOTO, aka OAKLAND)
11759 Oakland
Highland Park 520
2/4 Marr & Colton (1926)
Spent some time in unknown church. Last known Detroit area owner was the late Charles Baas of Clawson, who installed it in his home and later augmented it with other parts. Organ sold and removed 2016 following Mr. Baas' death. Current owner and location unknown.
LAKEWOOD (1915 - 1958)
14243-49 East Jefferson (at Lakewood) Ernest C. Thulin (Building Service Bureau)
Detroit 1,270
2/12 Moller (1915), [Opus 1985]
Two manuals, twenty-five registers.
Situated on the northwest corner of Jefferson and Lakewood, in the same block as the Vanity Ballroom, and purportedly cost $77,000 to build, according to the local press.Theatre closed and demolished in 1958.
LA SALLE GARDEN (1920 - 1954)
(aka CENTURY)
6511 14th St. (at West Grand Blvd.) Christian W. Brandt
Detroit 1,990
2/26 Hilgreen-Lane (1920)
2/?? Robert Morton (1928)
Renamed Century Theatre on March 8, 1930 when it was taken over by Publix. Gutted and converted to carwash in 1950s, stating CAR WASH on the attractions board of the original marquee. Demolished.
LASKY (1926 - 1949?)
13320 Joseph Campau
Hamtramck 998
3/9 Marr & Colton (1926)
Ed Kantarian had at least the console from this theatre to control his home instrument, later sold to Dave Voydanoff, and later to Bob Warsham. Now in Covenant Lutheran Church.
Converted to use as a furniture store shortly after closing as a theatre. Demolished in 2009 following an arson fire by vandals.
LEE PALACE
(aka PALACE)
6010 14th St.
Detroit 324
?/? Marr & Colton (1923)
LIBERTY (1913 -1926)
1020 Farmer St. (at Woodward) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 720
2/10 Hilgreen-Lane (1913)
?/? Hilgreen-Lane (1916) New blower? Revisions?
This was the former Central United Methodist Church, modified into a theatre by C. Howard Crane.
LINCOLN PARK (1925 - 2006)
(aka PARK)
1583 Fort C. Howard Crane (facade remodeled by Charles N. Agree, 1940s)
(two blocks North of Southfield Rd)
Lincoln Park 600
2/7 Hilgreen-Lane (1925)
Switched to adult films in the 1970s, closed in 2006. Now gutted and converted to affordable apartment housing, retaining the theatre's facade and marquee, renamed Lincoln Park Lofts in 2018.
LINCOLN SQUARE (1918 - 1971)
(aka LINCOLN)
6034-36 West Fort (at Livernois) Fred F. Swirsky (facade remodeled by Charles N. Agree, 1940s)
Detroit 1,850
2/10 Wurlitzer (1918) Style 4 Special [Opus 176]. Included Orchestral Oboe, Tibia Clausa and Marimba. Parts.
Theatre demolished.
LINWOOD-LASALLE (1920 - 1964)
(aka LINWOOD)
8229 Linwood (at Virginia Park) George V. Pottle
Detroit 1,400
2/6 Wurlitzer (1920) Style 160 [Opus 305]
2/8 Barton (1928)
The Barton featured a two-manual DeLuxe (circus wagon style) console, and the customary 8' Open Diapason was supplanted by an 8' Oboe Horn, presumably because of limited chamber space. The instrument was purchased and removed in February, 1968 by Chuck Lalone, and installed in his home in Taylor. It was moved along with Lalone to Tennessee, installed there, and later sold. Current location or condition unknown.
Theatre closed in 1964, and briefly reopened in 1971 for a revival of vaudeville. Now demolished.
LONIFF
???
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
LOOP (1928 - 1956)
418 Michigan Ave. (at Cass) H. D. Ilgenfritz
Detroit 550
2/5 Kimball (1928) [KPO 7011]
Operated as a 24-hour house, and was very popular with the 2nd and 3rd shift workers for nearly three decades. Closed in 1956 and now demolished.
LYRIC (1913 - 1929)
17 N. Gratiot
Mt. Clemens 316
Bartola Model 3-1/2 (1920)
Theatre razed in 1929 to make way for an S. S. Kresge store.
MACK-UPTOWN (1926 - 1963)
(aka UPTOWN)
14407 Mack Ave. (at Chalmers) Kohner & Payne
Detroit 1,550
2/4 Wurlitzer (Style B)
Purchased by Paul Ritzman. Lived in Detroit and later Chicago.
Theatre sold in 1959 and renamed Uptown. Closed in 1963.
MACOMB (1921 - 1980)
(aka EMERALD)
31 N. Walnut St. C. Howard Crane
Mt. Clemens 1,635
2/26 Hilgreen-Lane (1921)
The Hilgreen-Lane organ had two chambers "over the auditorium," plus an Echo chamber in the rear of the mezzanine level. Fate of the instrument is unknown.
In the 1970s, Bill Nelem and friends installed a 3/9 Kilgen (from the Palace Theatre, Gary, Indiana) in these chambers. Now removed and in storage in Wisconsin.
Numerous attempts were made to resuscitate the theatre including live theatre, dinner theatre and nightclub. Renamed the Macomb Music Theatre in 2018, and operates as a concert and live performance venue.
MADISON (1917 - 1984)
22 Witherell (at Grand Circus Park) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,806
3/48 Hilgreen-Lane (1916)
Largest H-L theatre organ ever built. Parted out over several phases. Remainder abandoned and came down with theatre interior. Marguerite Werner listed as "1st Organist" and M. Bennett as "2nd Organist" in a 1925 printed program.
Demolished in 2000, and only the facade remains. Location operated as a bar/restaurant until late 2010s. Now closed and future uncertain.
MAJESTIC (1915 - 1951)
4126-4140 Woodward (at Willis) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,651
2/16 Hilgreen-Lane (1915)
2/6 Wurlitzer (1920) Style 160 [Opus 336]
The Wurlitzer was first installed in the Wurlitzer Cincinnati store before coming to the Majestic.
At the time of it's opening, the Majestic claimed to be the largest theatre in the world built for the purpose of showing movies. The original facade was designed in an arcaded Italian style. In 1934, the front 35 feet of the theatre was removed when Woodward Avenue was widened to it's present size. The theatre closed in 1951, used as a church for a time, a photographic studio and later, a trophy store. It stood vacant for ten years until being purchased by the present owner in 1984. Since that time, this sprawling complex has housed live musical acts, a bar and contains the country's oldest bowling center. In the May 22, 2018 issue of the Detroit Free Press, it was announced that Detroit's signature independent concert house was about to undergo a $1-million, six month long renovation. The current facade will be replaced by one intended to recreate one installed there earlier, made of limestone and black granite, including a curb-facing box office. The 25-year-old Majestic Cafe has been closed in favor of an expanded lobby containing a fifty-foot long bar. Seating capacity will be increased from the current 1,000 seats to 1,300, along with restoration of the ceiling and an acoustical treatment added. Restrooms will be expanded, backstage dressing rooms constructed, and a new VIP seating area is to be incorporated. The theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
MAJESTIC (1916 - 195?)
3161-63 Biddle Christian Brandt
Wyandotte 976
Bartola Model 3-1/2 (1915)
Bartola Model 5 (1919)
2/? Barton (??)
2/7 Marr & Colton (1928)
The M&C moved to Berkely Community Church by Steve Bodman.
Theatre demolished in 1966 for a parking lot.
MARTHA WASHINGTON (1924 - 1970s)
(aka CAMPAU)
10315-31 Joseph Campau Peter R. Rossello
Hamtramck 1,000
2/8 Marr & Colton (1923)
3/14 Marr & Colton (1924), enlargement
Reg Webb, organist. Six ranks were straight, sold to St. Ladislaus (gymnasium), Hamtramck, then to Dennis Unks around 1970.
MAXINE (1915 - 1952)
7641 Mack Ave. McFarlane, Maul & Lenz
Detroit 960
2/9 Hilgreen-Lane (1915)
MICHIGAN (1926 - 1976)
238 Bagley (at Cass) C. W. Rapp & George Rapp
Detroit 4,038
5/28 Wurlitzer (1926) [Opus 1351]
The first and largest five-manual Wurlitzer. Cost $61,125. Famed organist Arthur Gutow presided here, later Merle Clark. Purchased in 1955 and reinstalled by Fred Hermes in his Racine, Wisconsin home with some additions. Numerous additions, but core instrument basically intact.
This was the only Detroit theatre designed by the legendary theatrical architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp. It was the Rapp brothers' third largest, and it, along with the 13-story Michigan Building opened in 1926. It was converted to a parking garage in 1976.
MILES (1910 - 1927)
1220-22 Griswold Keys & Colburn
Detroit 2,000
2/29 Hilgreen Lane (1921)
Demolished around May, 1928 to make way for the Albert Kahn-designed Griswold Building, which still occupies the site today.
MILES-MAJESTIC (never built)
Corner of Grand River & Roosevelt
Detroit 4,800
2/11 Hilgreen-Lane (1919)
Announced with great fanfare, this mammoth structure was never built, nor apparently was the organ, which seems to be very undersized for a space this large. The theatre builder was to have been Charles Miles, who also owned the Majestic, Regent and Orpheum theatres.
MOORFIELD
???
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
NETTIE B (1916 - 1958)
(aka TILLMAN, aka DALE, aka WOLVERINE, aka MODEL, aka MEXICO)
3301 - 3307 Michigan Avenue
Detroit 504
Reproduco (photoplayer)
(NEW) ASTOR (1923 - 1960s)
8652 12th St.
Detroit 723
?/? Marr & Colton (1923)
Closed in 1956, but reopened sporadically throughout the 1960s. Demolished.
NEW HAROLD
__
Pontiac
2/4 Wurlitzer (1919) Style 135 Special [Opus 0200]
Allegedly included a set of "Unifon" Bells.
(NEW) PLAZA (1913 - 1954)
11641 E. Jefferson
Detroit 750
?/? Kimball (1922)
Theatre demolished.
NEW ROWLAND
__
Pontiac
2/5 Wurlitzer (1919) Style 135 Special
NORWOOD (1915 - 1949)
6533 Woodward William S. Joy & Co.
Detroit 574
Reproduco (photoplayer)
OAKDALE
8 Mile Rd. & Stephenson Hwy.
Hazel Park 750
2/5 Marr & Colton
Moved to Immanuel N. Baptist; later First Latin American Baptist Church, (6205 W. Fort St., Detroit). Heavily water damaged. Organ and church building demolished in 2018 to make way for new Gordie Howe International Bridge.
OAKLAND (1917 - 1960)
41 S. Saginaw C. Howard Crane
Pontiac 1,417
3/12 Barton (1925)
A Butterfield Special (3/10 or 11) plus 30-note Bartolina (metal Tibia) and a second Vox Humana (37 notes), which were installed on the floor in the left chamber. It was still playing right up the end, when the organ was donated to a Mormon church in the area and completely burned in a fire (along with the theatre) in late October, 1960, just weeks before it was scheduled to leave the building. Cliff Weegan was the longtime organist here.
Decorated in the 18th century neoclassical motif known as Adam Style. Amphitheatre (stadium) seating with no official balcony, and situated directly across the street from the State Theatre.
OAKMAN (1919 - 1950s)
12728-40 Woodrow Wilson (at Glendale) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,213
2/3 Barton (1921)
3/? Marr & Colton (1927)
Located in Dexter-Linwood neighborhood. Closed in 1937, but reopened for a brief time in the 1950s before closing permanently as a movie house. Later used as a church, who moved out in 2009. Building now houses a landscaping supply company.
OLYMPIA STADIUM (1927 - 1979)
5920 Grand River C. Howard Crane
Detroit 11,563 (later increased to 15,000)
3/14 Barton (1934)
This late instrument was a composite factory-built organ controlled by a repossessed Butterfield Special console from a theatre in Wisconsin. Much of the remainder was originally installed in the studios of WBBM (Chicago). The instrument was outfitted with English Post Horn (Dennison, 16'), Trumpet and Saxophone (Gottfried, both on 15" wind pressure), all purpose-built for the stadium installation, along with a metal Diaphone from National Organ Supply. The specification was clearly designed for brute force to battle against the live acoustic of the mammoth stadium, and differed somewhat from the standard theatre organ. In addition to the previously mentioned custom reeds, it's tonal makeup consisted of (standard) Tuba, Tuba Mirabilis, (second) English Post Horn (marked as French Trumpet on the tabs), Open Diapason, Concert Flute, two Tibia Clausa and four string ranks. That meant no Vox Humana, Clarinet, Oboe Horn, Orchestral Oboe or Kinura, as one would expect to find in a "standard" Barton organ in a 1920s movie theatre. Despite being increased in size, the combination action only operated the original number of tabs. This was a single chamber installation along one side of the stadium that opened up fully with large openings on three sides. The console was on one end of the building, with Bob Clarke as organist. Chicago area organ technician Frank Wichlac began the installation, and Steve Bodman finished and serviced it. Removed by Roger Mumbrue in 1964, sold to Robert Goldstine (via Robert Nickerson) and later to Byron Fogt; all three of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Fogt modified and added to the basic organ while installed in his home. Later given to Mark Herman (then of Ft. Wayne) following Fogt's passing. Parts.
Olympia Stadium demolished 1987.
ORCHESTRA HALL (1919 - 1939)
Renamed PARADISE (1941 - 1951)
Renamed ORCHESTRA HALL (1987 - present)
3711 Woodward C. Howard Crane
Detroit 2,286
4/96 Casavant, removed and installed in Calvary Presbyterian Church, ca. 1942, sans Tuba Organ division and 32' Open Diapason (wood). Donated to the Music House Museum in 1992, who removed the organ from the church and stored it for several years while in Acme, Michigan. Now once again in the hands of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with hopes of reinstalling all or part of it in Orchestra Hall; possibly marrying it to all or part of the Aeolian-Skinner organ from the now-demolished Ford Auditorium. Like the DIA Casavant, not a true theatre organ, but a fine old instrument voiced in the orchestral Romantic style with numerous orchestral voices. Films have been shown here from time to time. Information sketchy whether or not organ accompanied those films.
Due to financial difficulties, the DSO moved out of the building in 1939, and relocated to the Masonic Temple Theatre. From 1941 until 1951, the building served as Detroit's home for concert hall jazz, featuring the finest performers of that type, until abandoning the building, which stood vacant for nearly twenty years. Ultimately, interested parties joined forces, faithfully restored the building and the DSO moved back into the building in 1989, fifty years after moving out.
ORIENT (1927 - 1960s)
(aka ORIOLE)
8450 Linwood (at Philadelphia) George D. Mason
Detroit 2,078
3/17 Marr & Colton (1927)
Puchased and removed by Nat Brown and Roger Mumbrue. Console, Quintadena and Gamba ranks were installed in Roger's Bloomfield Hills home. Remainder sold. Altered and enlarged to 38 ranks. Removed and currently owned by Melissa Ambrose-Eidson, with plans to install in a private studio at a future date. Dudley Harwood was organist. Mrs. Marr recalled the Orient M&C as one of their premier instruments, right alongside the 4/18 Buffalo (N.Y.) Roosevelt Theatre and 5/24 Rochester (N.Y.) Rochester Theatre.
Beginning in 1953, this was the home of Prophet Jones, leader of the Universal Triumph the Dominion of God for several years, later moving to a space above the Fine Arts Theatre, before finding a permanent home of worship at 1651 Ferry Park. The organ at the Oriole was restored by Steve Bodman and used by Prophet Jones.
Building is now the New Bethel Baptish Church, formerly pastored by C. L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin.
ORIENTAL (1927 - 1950)
(aka RKO DOWNTOWN)
120 West Adams Percival R. Periera
Detroit 2,950
3/15 Kimball (KPO 6954), (1927)
Dudley Boomhower was organist here, and was highly regarded by the other Detroit area organists. Purchased and removed in 1961 by organbuilder Julian Bully of Toledo and set up in his shop, but never playing. Later owned by onetime DTOS president, the late Charles Edwards. Sold in 2018 to Jim Hassberger. Intact, in storage in Oxford, MI.
Auditorium demolished for parking in 1953, but portions of its elaborate lobby remain as a part of the Briggs House Apartments, formerly the Park Apartments. Those remaining architectural elements have preserved by the new user of the space, PAO Detroit, an upscale Asian restaurant.
ORPHEUM (1914 - 1964)
(aka LAFAYETTE, aka SHUBERT, aka SHUBERT-LAFAYETTE)
153 W. Lafayette Ave. (at Shelby) Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Detroit 1,489
2/23 Hilgreen-Lane (1917)
Demolished 1964.
A parking structure for employees of the Dime Building now resides on that site.
ORPHEUM (1926 - 1955)
65-67 S. Saginaw George W. Bachmann
Pontiac 1,469
2/6 Barton (1925)
Purchased by one-time DTOS member Ray Eby around 1960, and was playing in his home. One chamber, on auditorium left. According to the local press, the organ cost $25,000 when first installed.
Building demolished shortly after closing.
PALACE (1914 - 1928)
130-32 Monroe C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,349
2/19 Hilgreen-Lane (1920)
PARK (1921 - 1949)
2626 East Davison Harry T. Smith
Detroit 676
2/3 Wurlitzer (1923) Style 109 [Opus 740]
Parts.
PARK
???
Highland Park
Reproduco (photoplayer)
PASADENA (1914 - 1949)
9232 Mack Ave. (at Pasadena) Greenwich Co., designers-builders
Detroit 386
?/? Page (1925)
PASTIME (1909 - 1922)
(aka OUR)
8767 Kercheval
Detroit 395
Reproduco (photoplayer)
PENNIMAN-ALLEN (1925 - ????)
(aka P&A, aka MARQUIS)
133-5 East Main
Northville 600
2/6 Wurlitzer (1925) Style D Special [Opus 1205]
Had a 16' Diaphone. Sold to Nat Brown, console and relay sold to Roger Mumbrue. Modified console later controlled Dave Brewer's residence organ. Parts.
A fire at the theatre caused some minor smoke damage, but this was since repaired, including new seats and curtains. Theatre closed March, 2021.
PENNIMAN-ALLEN (1918 - 1968)
(aka P&A)
855 Penniman C. :Howard Crane
Plymouth 600
2/3 Wurlitzer (1923) Model 109
Repossessed (See CASINO listing)
2/6 Wurlitzer (1925) Style D Special [Opus 1221]
No 16' Diaphone. Sold to Nat Brown, later sold to Jack Dommer, later sold to Stan Albertson, later sold to Larry Gleason. Now installed in Larry's home in Florida.
Theatre destroyed in a fire in 1968.
PICCADILLY (1925 - 1951)
4014 Livernois (at Fenkell)
Detroit 825
Reproduco (photoplayer)
2/4 Wurlitzer (1925) Style B [Opus 1018]
Doubtful this theatre had both instruments simultaneously. It is possible the theatre ordered the Reproduco and then cancelled in favor of the Wurlitzer, or that it temporarily filled in until the Wurlitzer arrived. The information for Reproduco comes from one of their advertisements, and the Wurlitzer data from the "unofficial" Meakin Jones list.
Theatre initially closed in 1951 after attempting an art house concept for eight months. Reopened with art and repertory films in 1954 as the Abbey Playhouse, changing to legit theatre and live shows, finally closing in 1956. Theatre since demolished.
PUNCH & JUDY (1930 - 1977)
21 Kercheval Robert O. Derrick
Grosse Pointe Farms 714
2/5 Wurlitzer (1928) Style 150 Special [Opus 1880]
This instrument was installed and playing in the Wurlitzer store in downtown Detroit (1928), moved once within the store, and reinstalled in the P&J at the time of the theatre's opening (1930). Steve Bodman installed the organ all three times. With all of the plush interior and 96 luxury armchairs in the balcony, it was once described as “Detroit’s largest living room.” Later moved to the Sterling Heights home of Jerry Elliott, playing there until 2015, when the organ was purchased and removed by organist Justin LaVoie, awaiting restoration and reinstallation.
In 1988, the theatre's interior was gutted and converted into offices, but its Colonial American exterior remains basically unaltered.
RAMONA (1927 - 1977)
13705 Gratiot (at McNichols) Kohner & Payne
Detroit 2,020
2/4 Wurlitzer (1927) Style B Special [Opus 1692]
Roy Steinert installed a Gottfried French Horn on a Page chest at some point. Later became mostly junk. Some parts salvaged. See BALDWIN, Royal Oak.
Despite being designed by a different architectural firm, the Ramona's exterior greatly resembled the Grand Riviera Theatre. Demolished in 1978.
REDFORD (1928 - present)
17354 Lahser (just North of Grand River) Verner, Wilhelm, Molby, Shrieve & Associates
Detroit (Redford Township) 2,051
3/10 Barton (1928) [258 Organ]
The longtime home of the Motor City Theatre Organ Society. Organ intact, some alterations.
Out of over a hundred theatres in the Detroit metro area that contained pipe organs when they were built, the Redford Theatre is the only neighborhood theatre remaining with it's original theatre organ.
REGENT (1916 - 1974)
(aka CENTER)
7314 Woodward Stratton & Von Schneider
Detroit 3,600
4/27 Kimball (1916)
Cramped under-stage chambers with small openings made this instrument rather underwhelming. This was largely a straight instrument, and included an Echo division.
Razed in 1975.
REGINALD WEBB STUDIO
3001 E. Grand Blvd. (near Woodward)
Detroit
3/10 Marr & Colton (1928)
2/4 Marr & Colton (1928) Practice organ
The three-manual Marr & Colton was regularly broadcast over radio station WJR by organists Reg Webb and Jack Thomas. Webb was the Marr & Colton representative for the Detroit and surrounding area, and sold a remarkable total of sixty of their instruments; a fact verified by Mrs. Marr. His legendary sales numbers were probably due in no small part to the fact that he performed extensively on the radio during the Golden Era, plus the M&C instruments tended to be significantly cheaper than the competition, in every sense of the word. According to his widow, David Marr said, "if you've had the organ for ten years, you ought to think about buying a new organ." At some point, the instrument was broken up, with the Post Horn going to a church in Bay City, and the console eventually going to Harold Dingel in Goodrich, Michigan. Following Mr. Dingel's passing, the console and organ were sold in recent years. Current location unknown.
The smaller two-manual M&C was considered a practice organ, and later went to pipe organ service technician Bill Hays.
REPUBLIC (1924 - 1934)
1313 Broadway C. Howard Crane
Detroit 400
Reproduco (photoplayer)
RIALTO (1917 - 1968)
6345-47 Gratiot C. Howard Crane
(between Mt. Elliot and Meldrum)
Detroit 1,334
2/22 Hilgreen-Lane (1916)
Theatre was demolished shortly after closing in 1968.
Early form of stadium-style seating, with steeply sloping auditorium floor.
RIVOLA (1922 - 1959)
4703 Cadillac (at East Forest) Christian W. Brandt and H.D. Ilgenfritz
Detroit 1,010
2/6 Wurlitzer (1921) Style 160 [Opus 467]
RKO UPTOWN (1927 - 1980)
(aka SIX MILE UPTOWN, aka SIX MILE)
16501 Woodward (at McNichols) Percival R. Periera; Graven & Mayger, associates
Highland Park 3,200 / later reduced to 1,500 to sidestep union demands
3/11 Wurlitzer (1926) Style 235 [Opus 1547]
This instrument had not played since 1942, when it was reawakened by Mert and Chuck Harris and recorded by John Muri in 1970 just prior to it's removal in 1971. With the seats out of the balcony, the organ had a remarkable acoustic in which to play. “John Muri, Volume 1” is a “must have” for anyone who enjoys Muri’s music, or a modern recording of an unaltered Wurlitzer organ in its original home. Intact in private home in Royal Oak, Michigan; unplayable.
Starting in the early 1970s, it switched from movies to live strip shows, and later that decade to pornographic films. Closed in 1980 with plans to convert it to a playhouse called The Eighties, which never came to fruition. Demolished by the late 1980s.
ROOSEVELT (1925 - 1954)
(aka IMPERIAL)
9515 Gratiot - Harper Christian W. Brandt and H. D. Ilgenfritz
Detroit 1,771
2/6 Wurlitzer (1922), Style D [Opus 526]
Initially installed in downtown Detroit Wurlitzer store (1922). Later installed in Cinderella Theatre (1923), and removed in 1924 to make way for larger Style H Wurlitzer. Reinstalled in Roosevelt Theatre (1924). Sold to Herb Head, Roseville, MI (1954?). Head's enlarged instrument was donated to the Texas Theatre (1912) in McGregor, TX in 2010, and is in storage awaiting reinstallation. See CINDERELLA listing.
ROSEDALE (1915 - 1954)
11520 Woodward (near Rosedale Park) William B. Stratton
Detroit 965
2/12 Kimball (1915)
Parts
Purchased in 1955 by Pastor Bishop C. L. Morton, Sr., whose congregation, Greater Mount Zion Church of God in Christ held services there until the 1970s. Theatre demolished in June, 2007.
ROYAL OAK (1928 - 1976)
(aka ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE)
318 West 4th St. C. W. Rapp & George Rapp
Royal Oak 2,000
3/10 Barton (1928)
Used for many years by the Motor City Theatre Organ Society in the theatre, altered and removed to storage by members. Later sold to Scott Herpick of Brighton, and later sold to Robert Maes, organ broker from Kansas City, Missouri. Parts.
Theatre reopened as a concert venue, renamed the Royal Oak Music Theatre in 1976, upon the closing of the building as a first-run movie house.
RUSSELL (1917 - 1949)
5335 Russell (between Kirby & Frederick) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,406
Bartola Model 5 (1917)
SENATE (1926 - 1958)
6424 Michigan Avenue Christian W. Brandt
Detroit 1,200
2/7 Robert Morton (1926)
Played by Marguerite Werner, who later went on to play the bigger downtown houses, particularly the United Artists Theatre. Instrument moved to WXYZ Studios on W. Jefferson Avenue in 1931. See WXYZ STUDIOS listing.
Home of the Detroit Theatre Organ Society since 1963.
STATE (1925 - 1983)
(aka PALMS-STATE, aka PALMS, aka CLUBLAND, aka THE FILLMORE DETROIT)
2121 Woodward C. Howard Crane
Detroit 2,967
4/20 Wurlitzer (1925) Publix #1 [Opus 1148]
This was the second of this popular four-manual series to be built, and was installed only one month after the first Publix #1 in Detroit's Capitol Theatre, just blocks away. Total cost of organ and installation was $46,475. Not considered a very successful installation, with very high chambers. Don Miller and Lew Betterly played here. The organ was water soaked, with six ranks missing by the time it was removed in 1972 by organ broker Roy Davis. Later went to Oral Roberts University. At some point, the console and relay were sold to control the Wurlitzer organ in the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, California for many years until recently, when the pipe organ was removed in lieu of a large custom digital organ. The remainder of the State organ ultimately went to the Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, Texas amidst much initial ballyhoo, but unfortunately has been mothballed already after a very short public life there, as the theatre's new business plan does not include the organ.
STATE (1927 - 1956)
38-40 S. Saginaw St.
Pontiac 1,300
2/8 Barton (1926)
Moved to Romeo First Church of Christ, Scientist with some alterations, including a Dulciana and Trumpet from the Kimball organ in the Croswell Opera House, Adrian, Michigan. Later purchased and removed by Jerry Muethel. Now owned by Dwayne Kursynski of Sandusky, Michigan.
STRAND (1915 - 1958)
4730 Grand River (at 14th) C. Howard Crane
Detroit 1,384
3/13 Hilgreen-Lane (1915)
Demolished shortly after closing.
STRAND (1921 - 1981)
12-14 N. Saginaw St. Leo John Hennan
Pontiac 895
3/8 Barton (1920)
Removed by Steve Bodman, gone to parts. A photo of organist A. J. Kleist seated at the very unusual console of this instrument exists on cinematreasures.org. Top manual was split, ala Bartola pit organs. The less-than-ideal setup was that one could use either the split manual or the other two, but not at the same time. The photo shows many couplers in the stoprails. The theatre building is still extant, now the Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts, following a $20-million renovation. The Strand is the last survivor of the eight movie houses that once graced downtown Pontiac.
STRATFORD (1916 - 1985)
4651 West Vernor Joseph P. Jogerst
Detroit 1,137
2/7 Wurlitzer (1916) Style 3 [Opus 86]
Organist was Doris Gutow. Moved in the 1930s to Our Lady of Help Christian Church, and later sold to John Rinn of St. Clair, who installed it in his home there. Lacking a Tibia in the original plan, Rinn acquired one from Roger Mumbrue and added it to the organ. Removed and donated to Soo Theatre project in Sault St. Marie. In storage.
Building owned by a church, leased for a while to a discount furniture store, now empty.
TEMPLE (1901 - 1930)
15-19 Monroe James M. Wood
Detroit 1,573
2/7 Wurlitzer (1927) Style E [Opus 1566]
Razed in 1935 for a new office building that was never built.
TIVOLI (1926 - 1927)
16330 Woodward
Detroit (Highland Park)
2/4 Wurlitzer (1924?) Style B [Opus 962]
In the only such incident to ever occur in the Detroit metro area, this theatre was destroyed by a bomb blast in the late Fall of 1927.
TUXEDO (1921 - 1958, razed 1967)
11738 Hamilton (at Tuxedo) Maurice H. Finkel
Highland Park 1,800
2/? Robert Morton (1921)
3/13 Robert Morton (1926)
The later organ had the rare V'Olean, a stringed stop played from the keys of the organ. Reportedly weak and always out of tune. A good deal of the organ was on 15" (considered higher pressure), but closed down dramatically at the toes. Like the Grand Riviera Morton, this instrument had no console lift. Purchased and removed by Nat Brown and Roger Mumbrue in late 50s. Became core of a large hybrid theatre organ in Bloomfield Hills, which is now in storage, slated for reinstallation in private studio in northern Michigan. Some of it parted out.
UNITED ARTISTS (1928 - 1974)
(aka DOWNTOWN)
140 Bagley C. Howard Crane
Detroit 2,012
3/17 Wurlitzer (1927) Style 260 Special [Opus 1824]
Marguerite Werner, wife of orchestra conductor Edward Werner was the organist here. Purchased and removed from theatre ca. 1974. Reinstalled briefly in Pied Piper Pizza Peddler at Universal Mall in Warren (1980), majority of organ and console now installed in Long Center, Lafayette, IN. Remainder to parts.
Illitch Holdings now owns the building, and current plans are to develop the 18-story office tower into 148 residential apartments and demolish the theatre for surface level parking.
UNIVERSAL (1915 - 1930)
831 Michigan Avenue
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
VENDOME (1911 - 1958)
(aka SUN, aka SEVILLE)
4481 Grand River Ave.
Detroit 891
Bartola Model 5 (1917)
VIRGINIA (1914 - 1949)
(aka VIRGINIA PARK)
8237 Hamilton Ave. Harry S. Angell
Detroit 485
2/3 Wurlitzer (1923) Style 108 [Opus 621]
Sold and relocated to unknown Evangelical Lutheran Church, Detroit.
Theatre demolished, land converted to a frontage road for John C. Lodge Freeway.
WADLOW BROS
__
Plymouth(?)
2/3 Wurlitzer (1923) Style 108 [Opus 638]
Repossessed. See entry for CASINO theatre.
WASHINGTON (1913 - 1928)
(aka FOX WASHINGTON)
1505-1513 Washington Blvd. Frederick T. Barcroft
Detroit 1,862
2/11 Hilgreen-Lane (1914)
3/7 Moller (1919) [Opus 2739]
Three manuals, fifty-eight registers.
??/?? Moller (1928)
The 1928 Moller was reportedly built, but before the organ could be installed, the theatre was replaced by the "new" Fox on Woodward Avenue, and demolished only months after closing. Pipework allegedly used by Moller in Opus 5374, installed at the Church of the Nativity, Detroit (1931). Organist Ole Foersch started here in 1921, later moving to the Fisher when the Fox-Washington closed, and later to the current Fox Theatre on Woodward in 1928.
Situated next door to the Statler Hotel, which accounted for much of it's patronage.
WEST END (1926 - 1954)
6864 West Warren Ave.
Detroit 800
3/10 Barton (1926)
Possibly repossessed, moved to a church, or parted out. Based on the reported blower capacity, and given the apparent size of the chambers from vintage photos, it is believed that this organ was a half-unit, half-straight "Butterfield Special." This particular model would have had only a 16' Bourdon in the bass during that time period, which would have saved a good deal of chamber space. Barton organs as late as 1926 were voiced on the mild side; much different than the three identical Kunsky Bartons built just one year later for the Redford, Royal Oak and Birmingham Theatre(s), which were on higher wind pressure and voiced more boldly.
The theatre was later converted to a church, and demolished in recent years.
WHITE STAR (1915 - ????)
9237 Joseph Campau
Hamtramck 360
Reproduco (photoplayer)
WILLIS (1913 - 1949)
4190 Hastings French & Fleischer
Detroit 399
Reproduco (photoplayer)
WOODWARD (1914 - 1927)
(aka WOODWARD NO. 1)
1018 Woodward
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
WOODWARD (1918 - 1970s)
(aka WOODWARD NO. 2, aka MIDWEST, aka BLACKSTONE NO. 2, aka STONE)
2511 Woodward
Detroit
Reproduco (photoplayer)
WOODWARD GRAND (1924 - 1958)
(aka HUMBER, aka UPTOWN GRAND, aka GRAND)
15 West Grand Ave.
Highland Park 940
2/4 Marr & Colton (1924)
WWJ RADIO
Lafayette & 2nd Avenues (Detroit Evening News Building)
Detroit
2/3 Estey (1930) [Opus 2909]
This was one of those curious little models known as the "Grand Minuette;" with two manuals and a pedalboard mated to a cabinet that was shaped like a grand piano. All of the organ's pipes and mechanics were precisely engineered to fit neatly into this very crammed cabinet. A vintage photo known well by area organ buffs has been seen from time to time with organist Ole Foerch playing this instrument.
WWJ RADIO
600 W. Lafayette Avenue
Detroit
3/15 Aeolian-Skinner (1936) [Opus 942]
3/26 Aeolian-Skinner (later additions - unknown date)
The nation's second oldest radio station moved it's operations into new studios on West Lafayette at the same time as the organ's installation in 1936. This striking Moderne building was designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn, who also designed the transmitter building in similar syle at the same time, which still stands on 8 Mile and Meyer Rds. Kahn had also designed the Detroit Evening News Building, from which WWJ broadcasted for it's first several years; established as an extension of the newspaper. The later Lafayette studio building is now occupied by the AFL-CIO. The 1936 Aeolian-Skinner was delivered with two, three-manual drawknob consoles controlling fifteen ranks. One console was upstairs in a studio where the organ was heard directly, while the other was in a large studio downstairs. It had a unified Tibia Clausa with second-touch on the Choir manual of both consoles. Given the specifications, it would appear to be a near-identical twin of one installed in NBC Studio 3B in New York City just two years earlier. (During his stint at the New York Paramount in the late 1940s, famed organist George Wright jokingly claimed to have kept the NYC cab companies in business, constantly running him between the theatre and the studio, where he also played for broadcasts.) The original contract with the Evening News Association stated a total cost of $18,700. In 1955, the WWJ organ was donated and moved to First Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak, where it was reinstalled with additions by Casavant Freres, and later enlarged and console replaced by a succession of commercial builders including Schantz and Moller on a regular basis of about every ten years. The instrument was most recently rebuilt in 2013 by Reuter, retaining an unknown amount of the previous or the original organ, now three manuals controlling fifty-four ranks. WWJ has since moved to another studio on American Drive in Southfield, and has mothballed the transmitter.
WXYZ RADIO
8415 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit
2/7 Robert-Morton
Moved from Senate Theatre and installed into the studio by Steve Bodman in 1931 in what had previously been the carriage house for the Mendelssohn mansion, located at the foot of Indian Village. Armin "Jack" Franz and Lew Betterly could be heard regularly on this instrument. Moved to Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Oak Park in 1955, later burned. See SENATE listing.
UNKNOWN
Detroit
?/? Wurlitzer (1915) Rebuilt Model J [Opus 077]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources:
A List of More Than 5,200 Moller Pipe Organs, M. P. Moller, 1928
Detroit Free Press, September 29, 1963
A Guidebook of Automatic Musical Instruments; Q. David Bowers, 1967
Theatre Organ Bombarde, several issues in 1968 (Barton info)
An Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments; Q. David Bowers, 1972
Wurlitzer, Judd Walton, 1973
Opera House, Nickel Show and Palace; Andrew Craig Morrison, 1974
Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, volume 1; David Junchen, 1985
Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, volume 2; David Junchen, 1989
Motor City Marquees; Stuart Galbraith IV, 1994
E. M. Skinner / Aeolian-Skinner Opus List; Allen Kinsey & Sand Lawn, OHS, 1997
The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ; David Junchen & Jeff Weiler, 2005
Detroit's Downtown Movie Palaces; Michael Hauser, Marianne Weldon, 2006
Motor City Movie Culture, 1918 - 1925, Richard Abel, 2020
Internet sources:
Cinema Treasures.org
Cinematour.com
HistoricDetroit.org
Historictheatres.org
jeff560.tripod.com
Movie-Theatre.org>mi>MI Detroit City.pdf
The Moving Picture World, July - September, 1914
OHS Pipe Organ Database
Theatreorgans.com
Peter Beames Wurlitzer List
WaterWinterWonderland.com
Worthpoint.com
Individuals:
William Kaltrider
John Lauter
Roger Mumbrue
Michael Przybylski
Glenn Rank
Steve Schlesing
Carlton Smith
Dave Voydanoff
Compiled by:
Scott Smith
Revision 2:
09/11/21